Aspirin induced asthma: Effect size needs to be clarified

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7447.1076-b

BMJ 2004;328:1076 (1 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7447.1076-b

Letter

Aspirin induced asthma

Effect size needs to be clarified

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Jenkins et al describe the pooled data for therisk of aspirin induced asthma, and by implication all asthmainduced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).¹NSAIDs are an important group of medicines in the treatmentof acute pain after injury. Not all patients are, however, ableto tolerate them because of respiratory or gastrointestinalside effects.

It is accepted that more patients are being diagnosed as asthmatic,so is it true that NSAIDs can be prescribed to fewer patients?The trials that were pooled for the meta-analysis had differingselection criteria. It would be fair to comment that the populationused for the study is one where the asthma is more severe—asthmaclinics and admissions for acute exacerbations. It would befair to say that most patients with asthma are managed in thecommunity without any problems. To say that anyone under 40should have a witnessed trial . . . [Full text of this article]

Robert D Southward, consultant in accident and emergency medicine

University Hospital of Hartlepool, Hartlepool TS24 9AH robertdougal.southward@nth.nhs.uk

CiteULike

Complore

Connotea

Del.icio.us Add to Digg

Digg

StumbleUpon Add to Technorati

Technorati What's this?

Relevant Article

Systematic review of prevalence of aspirin induced asthma and its implications for clinical practice: Christine Jenkins, John Costello, and Linda Hodge
BMJ 2004 328: 434. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]